Deputies jail three, look for fourth, from parking lot brawl

Published: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 2:56 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, November 23, 2012 at 2:56 p.m.

MARION OAKS — Three of the four people involved in a brawl in the parking lot of a gas station on Thanksgiving Day were arrested. Deputies are looking for the fourth person.

Deputy Lisa Azure met with Carlos Luis Aguirre, 45, and his son Carlos Aguirre Jr. at the BP gas station at 168 Marion Oaks Blvd. The elder Aguirre said he saw his estranged wife, Shayla N. Aguirre, 25, sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot. He said he walked toward the store when he saw her boyfriend, George Lowery Jr., 25, coming out of the station.

Aguirre alleged that Lowery punched him for no reason, and said his son intervened. During the altercation, he said, his wife hit his son, who is her stepson, with a baseball bat.

The younger Aguirre, who had minor injuries on his face, back and knees, told the deputy a similar story. He was taken to TimberRidge Hospital for treatment.

Lowery told the deputy he came out of the store and the elder Aguirre approached him screaming and yelling, and began hitting him. He claims Aguirre Jr. displayed a knife, so he attempted to get a baseball bat from his vehicle. He said Aguirre Jr. kicked him, and his girlfriend hit her stepson with the bat.

The woman told the deputy her husband yelled at her and when he saw Lowery, both he and his son attacked him. She said she protected Lowery, but wouldn’t explain how.

The deputy reviewed store video and saw the elder Aguirre walk to the vehicle his wife was sitting in and engage in a conversation. He then went to the front of the store, where he saw Lowery and they began fighting.

The video shows Aguirre Jr. hitting Lowery, and Shayla N. Aguirre hitting her husband and stepson, as well as Lowery opening the back door of his vehicle and reaching for some type of object.

The four continued to fight until Shayla N. Aguirre and Lowery left the scene and called 911.

Found inside Lowery’s vehicle were a knife, a baseball bat and a loaded semi-automatic handgun.

Azure and other deputies arrested Shayla N. Aguirre and charged her with aggravated battery and also possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, based on a 2007 battery conviction and because she told them she knew the gun was in the vehicle.

They charged Carlos Aguirre with felony battery and Lowery with simple battery.

All three were taken to the Marion County Jail.

When deputies went to the hospital to see Aguirre Jr., he had fled the area. They are searching for him, and anyone with information as to his whereabouts can call the Sheriff’s Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.

<p>MARION OAKS — Three of the four people involved in a brawl in the parking lot of a gas station on Thanksgiving Day were arrested. Deputies are looking for the fourth person.</p><p>Deputy Lisa Azure met with Carlos Luis Aguirre, 45, and his son Carlos Aguirre Jr. at the BP gas station at 168 Marion Oaks Blvd. The elder Aguirre said he saw his estranged wife, Shayla N. Aguirre, 25, sitting in a vehicle in the parking lot. He said he walked toward the store when he saw her boyfriend, George Lowery Jr., 25, coming out of the station.</p><p>Aguirre alleged that Lowery punched him for no reason, and said his son intervened. During the altercation, he said, his wife hit his son, who is her stepson, with a baseball bat.</p><p>The younger Aguirre, who had minor injuries on his face, back and knees, told the deputy a similar story. He was taken to TimberRidge Hospital for treatment.</p><p>Lowery told the deputy he came out of the store and the elder Aguirre approached him screaming and yelling, and began hitting him. He claims Aguirre Jr. displayed a knife, so he attempted to get a baseball bat from his vehicle. He said Aguirre Jr. kicked him, and his girlfriend hit her stepson with the bat.</p><p>The woman told the deputy her husband yelled at her and when he saw Lowery, both he and his son attacked him. She said she protected Lowery, but wouldn't explain how.</p><p>The deputy reviewed store video and saw the elder Aguirre walk to the vehicle his wife was sitting in and engage in a conversation. He then went to the front of the store, where he saw Lowery and they began fighting.</p><p>The video shows Aguirre Jr. hitting Lowery, and Shayla N. Aguirre hitting her husband and stepson, as well as Lowery opening the back door of his vehicle and reaching for some type of object.</p><p>The four continued to fight until Shayla N. Aguirre and Lowery left the scene and called 911.</p><p>Found inside Lowery's vehicle were a knife, a baseball bat and a loaded semi-automatic handgun.</p><p>Azure and other deputies arrested Shayla N. Aguirre and charged her with aggravated battery and also possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, based on a 2007 battery conviction and because she told them she knew the gun was in the vehicle.</p><p>They charged Carlos Aguirre with felony battery and Lowery with simple battery.</p><p>All three were taken to the Marion County Jail.</p><p>When deputies went to the hospital to see Aguirre Jr., he had fled the area. They are searching for him, and anyone with information as to his whereabouts can call the Sheriff's Office at 732-9111 or Crime Stoppers at 368-STOP, or visit www.ocalacrimestoppers.com.</p><p><i>Contact Austin L. Miller at 867-4118 or austin.miller@starbanner.com.</i></p>